U.S. patent application number 17/124733 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-14 for calculation method of total artificial precipitation in seeding area compared to non-seeding area.
This patent application is currently assigned to National Institute of Meteorological Sciences. The applicant listed for this patent is National Institute of Meteorological Sciences. Invention is credited to Joo-Wan CHA, Sanghee CHAE, Ki-Ho CHANG, Woonseon JUNG, Chulkyu LEE, Yonghun RO.
Application Number | 20220113450 17/124733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005302125 |
Filed Date | 2022-04-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220113450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RO; Yonghun ; et
al. |
April 14, 2022 |
CALCULATION METHOD OF TOTAL ARTIFICIAL PRECIPITATION IN SEEDING
AREA COMPARED TO NON-SEEDING AREA
Abstract
A method is provided of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area, which is capable of increasing the reliability of
quantitative determination of seeding effect, observation data, and
numerical model prediction data obtained from artificial
precipitation experiments, of increasing the amount of water
resources through weather modification experiments, of
accomplishing various effects (drought reduction, forest fire
prevention, fine dust reduction, fog reduction, hail suppression,
etc.) and other related applications through artificial rainfall
experiments, of improving the accuracy of correction and prediction
of a numerical model obtained through weather modification
experiments based on observation data, of establishing experimental
and observation strategies for improving seeding efficiency in
weather modification experiments, of developing the field of study
on cloud development and fine physical changes in the cloud after
seeding, and of improving the economic feasibility of artificial
rainfall experiments.
Inventors: |
RO; Yonghun; (Jeju-do,
KR) ; CHANG; Ki-Ho; (Seoul, KR) ; CHA;
Joo-Wan; (Jeju-do, KR) ; CHAE; Sanghee;
(Jeju-do, KR) ; JUNG; Woonseon; (Jeju-do, KR)
; LEE; Chulkyu; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
National Institute of Meteorological Sciences |
Jeju-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
National Institute of
Meteorological Sciences
Jeju-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
1000005302125 |
Appl. No.: |
17/124733 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01G 15/00 20130101;
G01S 13/95 20130101; G01W 1/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01W 1/14 20060101
G01W001/14; A01G 15/00 20060101 A01G015/00; G01S 13/95 20060101
G01S013/95 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 14, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0117464 |
Claims
1. A method of calculating a total amount of artificial
precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded area, in
which seeding materials are seeded in an experimental area in order
to stimulate artificial precipitation in a target region and a
total amount of artificial precipitation in an area that is
influenced by the seeding materials compared to an area that is not
influenced by the seeding materials is calculated, the method
comprising: an analysis time determination step of setting a time
period during which the seeding materials seeded in the
experimental area diffuse and have an influence on a rain gauge or
a snow depth meter in the target region; a seeded-area-setting step
of setting a seeded area including a point at which artificial
precipitation has a greatest influence on the rain gauge or the
snow depth meter in the target region due to diffusion of the
seeding materials seeded in the experimental area and a diffusion
range of the seeding materials; a non-seeded-area-setting step of
setting a non-seeder area having same conditions as the seeded
area; an artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount analysis
step of calculating, when there are two or more places in each of
the seeded area and the non seeded area in which the rain gauge or
the snow depth meter indicates accumulated precipitation of 0.1 mm
or more, a precipitation average using precipitation data in the
two or more places and a difference between the precipitation
average in the seeded area and the precipitation average in the
non-seeded area to analyze increase and decrease in an amount of
artificial precipitation; and a total artificial precipitation
amount calculation step of determining, when a precipitation
increase occurs in the seeded area, an area of a region in which an
account precipitation increase is 0.1 or more as an effective area
to calculate a total amount of artificial precipitation.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the analysis time
determination step, when there is a small influence of natural
precipitation, the analysis time is determined considering an
overall time during which the target region is influenced by the
seeding materials, and when there is a large influence of natural
precipitation, the analysis time is set to be shorter in order to
prevent excessive accumulation of precipitation.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the
seeded-area-setting step, the seeded area is determined depending
on an influence of diffusion of the seeding materials.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the
non-seeded-area-setting step, the non-seeded area is set as an area
that is not influenced by diffusion of the seeding materials under
weather conditions and topographic conditions (observation
altitude) similar to those of a rainfall system distributed in the
seeded area.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, in the
non-seeded-area-setting step, when there is no area that is not
influenced by the seeding materials due to diffusion of the seeding
materials over an entire system when similar weather and
topographic conditions are not found, the non-seeded area is set as
a same area as the seeded area, and data on an accumulated
precipitation amount, measured in a previous time period during
which there was no influence of the seeding materials, is
analyzed.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the artificial
precipitation increase/decrease amount analysis step, when a number
of places in each of the seeded area and the non seeded. area in
which the rain gauge or the snow depth meter indicates accumulated
precipitation of 0.1 mm or more is smaller than two, radar
accumulated precipitation, estimated based on an HSR radar
reflectivity at a position of each observatory in the target region
and on a relational formula Z=148R.sup.1.59 (Equation 1), is used,
and radar estimated precipitation is used when an accuracy thereof
is 60% or higher compared to the rain gauge.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the artificial
precipitation increase/decrease amount analysis step, in order to
exclude an influence of topographic effect, a value observed based
on a rain gauge or a snow depth meter located in each mountainous
region in the seeded area is excluded from calculation of an
average value.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein, in the artificial
precipitation increase/decrease amount analysis step, when the
difference between the precipitation average in the seeded area and
the precipitation average in the non-seeded area has a positive
value, it is determined that a rain increase has occurred in the
seeded area, and when the difference between the precipitation
average in the seeded area and the precipitation average in the
non-seeded area has a negative value, it is determined that a rain
decrease has occurred in the seeded area.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the total
artificial precipitation amount calculation step, the total amount
of artificial precipitation is calculated using Equation 2 below:
total amount of artificial precipitation (tons)=effective
precipitation area.times.artificial precipitation increase
amount.times.precipitation density (Equation 2), wherein because a
unit of the effective precipitation area is m.sup.3 and a unit of
the artificial precipitation increase amount is mm, unit conversion
is necessary, the precipitation density is 1 g/cm.sup.3, and the
effective precipitation area is determined considering only an area
of a land region in which rain gauges or snow depth meters are
distributed.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of calculating the
total amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared
to a non-seeded area, and more particularly to a method of
calculating the total amount of artificial precipitation in a
seeded area compared to a non-seeded area, which is obtained
through experiments in which seeding materials are seeded in an
experimental area in order to stimulate artificial precipitation in
a target region, after which the total amount of artificial
precipitation the area that is influenced by the seeding materials
compared to the area that is not influenced by the seeding
materials is calculated so as to lay a foundation for aggressively
solving a water shortage phenomenon through artificial
precipitation using seeding materials, to increase the reliability
of quantitative determination of seeding effect, observation data,
and numerical model prediction data obtained from artificial
precipitation experiments in the short term, to increase the amount
of water resources through weather modification experiments, and to
accomplish various effects (drought reduction, forest fire
prevention, fine dust reduction, fog reduction, hail suppression,
etc.) and other related applications through artificial rainfall
experiments in the long term.
[0002] Recently, due to a phenomenon of abnormal temperatures
attributable to climate change, various kinds of unusual weather,
such as typhoons, localized torrential rain, heavy snow, and
drought, have appeared, and have directly or indirectly caused
material and economic losses.
[0003] In most of the country, the average annual precipitation is
low, and the precipitation is concentrated in one season such as
summer. Further, there are large regional and seasonal variations
in precipitation, thus leading to many problems attributable to the
lack of precipitation in the other seasons.
[0004] In the situation in which natural water resources are
limited, dam construction, river water filtration, seawater
desalination, deep sea water, artificial rain and snow increase,
may be considered as measures to secure alternative water
resources.
[0005] Among these alternatives, the artificial rain and snow
increase, called `artificial precipitation increase` for short, is
a desirable measure because it is capable of securing water
resources and of reducing drought damage at relatively low cost
while minimizing environmental problems attributable to development
thereof.
[0006] The artificial rain increase is a technology of stimulating
cloud development and condensation through cloud seeding
(hereinafter referred to as `seeding`) in an area in which there is
a possibility of rainfall due to the presence of a cloud layer but
the expected amount of precipitation is small, thereby increasing
the amount of precipitation or causing rain to fall in other areas,
and the artificial snow increase is a technology of causing snow to
fall, instead of rain, at relatively low temperatures.
[0007] Experiments for such artificial precipitation increase are
broadly divided into aerial experiments and around experiments,
among which aerial experiments are more effective.
[0008] The most important thing in aerial experiments for
artificial precipitation increase is to set up and determine a
seeding line. It is effective for the seeding line to be located at
a point or an altitude at which the cloud liquid water content (or
cloud water content) is the highest.
[0009] As a related art document, Korean Patent Registration No.
2008698 is disclosed.
[0010] The method of calculating the seeding line for artificial
rain increase through an aerial experiment in consideration of the
cloud liquid water content, which is disclosed in the above related
art document, includes a step of calculating numerical forecast
model data on a target area, a step of calculating an average
hourly total cloud liquid water content (or liquid water path
(LWP)) in the target area based on the numerical forecast model
data, a seeding-time-setting step of determining the time period
during which the cloud liquid water content (or LWP) is the
highest, a seeding-point-setting step of calculating the latitudes
and longitudes of the intermediate point and both end points of the
seeding line in the target area, a liquid water content (LWC)
calculation step of calculating the maximum LWC in the cloud in the
areas spaced a predetermined distance apart from the intermediate
point of the seeding line in leftward, rightward, upward, and
downward directions, and a step of selecting, upon determining that
the maximum LWC is greater than 0, a seeding line and a seeding
altitude corresponding to the layer in which the maximum LWC
appears and displaying the seeding line and the seeding
altitude.
[0011] The applicant of the present application proposes a method
of calculating the total amount of artificial precipitation in a
seeded area compared to a non-seeded area as the present invention,
which is distinguished over the above conventional art.
[0012] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area, in which seeding materials are seeded in an
experimental area in order to stimulate artificial precipitation in
a target region, after which the total amount of artificial
precipitation in the area that is influenced by the seeding
materials compared to the area that is not influenced by the
seeding materials is calculated so as to lay a foundation for
aggressively solving a water shortage phenomenon through artificial
precipitation using seeding materials.
[0013] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area so as to control the occurrence of precipitation,
among meteorological phenomena, thereby enabling preparation for
various disasters and stable supply of water resources.
[0014] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area, in which a quantitative increase in artificial
precipitation in the area that is influenced by the seeding
materials compared to the area that is not influenced by the
seeding materials is calculated in order to verify the influence of
seeding on precipitation increase after a weather modification
experiment.
[0015] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area so as to calculate the amount of water resources
that can be secured through a weather modification experiment using
the amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area.
[0016] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area so as to secure a sufficient amount of water
through an artificial precipitation experiment, thereby leading to
technology that lays a foundation for preparing measures to combat
drought.
[0017] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
on-seeded area, which is obtained through experiments so as to
increase the reliability of quantitative determination of seeding
effect, observation data, and numerical model prediction data
obtained from artificial precipitation experiments in the short
term, to increase the amount of water resources through weather
modification experiments, and to accomplish various effects
(drought reduction, forest fire prevention, fine dust reduction,
fog reduction, hail suppression, etc.) and other related
applications through artificial rainfall experiments in the long
term.
[0018] It is desirable to provide a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non seeded area so as to improve the accuracy of correction and
prediction of a numerical model obtained through weather
modification experiments based on observation data, to establish
experimental and observation strategies for improving:, seeding
efficiency in weather modification experiments, to develop the
field of study on cloud development and fine physical changes in
the cloud after seeding, and to improve the economic feasibility of
artificial rainfall experiments.
[0019] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
method of calculating the total amount of artificial precipitation
in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded area is provided, in
which seeding materials are seeded in an experimental area in order
to stimulate artificial precipitation in a target region and the
total amount of artificial precipitation in the area that is
influenced by the seeding materials compared to the area that is
not influenced by the seeding materials is calculated, the method
including an analysis time determination step (S10) of setting a
time period during which the seeding materials seeded in the
experimental area diffuse and have an influence on a rain gauge or
a snow depth meter in the target region, a seeded-area-setting step
(S20) of setting a seeded area including the point at which the
artificial precipitation has the greatest influence on the rain
gauge or the snow depth meter in the target region due to the
diffusion of the seeding materials seeded in the experimental area
and a diffusion range of the seeding materials, a
non-seeded-area-setting step (S30) of setting a non-seeded area
having the similar conditions for the atmosphere and topography as
the seeded area, an artificial precipitation increase/decrease
amount analysis step (S40) of calculating, when there are two or
more places in each of the seeded area and the non-seeded area in
which the rain gauge or the snow depth meter indicates accumulated
precipitation of 0.1 mm or more, the precipitation average using
precipitation data in the two or more places and the difference
between the precipitation average in the seeded area and the
precipitation average in the non-seeded area to analyze increase
and decrease in the amount of artificial precipitation, and a total
artificial precipitation amount calculation step (S50) of
determining, when a precipitation increase occurs in die seeded
area, the area of a region in which an accumulated precipitation
increase is 0.1 mm or more as an effective area to calculate the
total amount of artificial precipitation.
[0020] In the analysis time determination step (S10), when there is
a small influence of natural precipitation, the analysis time may
be determined considering the overall time during which the target
region is influenced by the seeding materials, and when there is a
large influence of natural precipitation, the analysis time lay be
set to be shorter in order to prevent excessive accumulation of
precipitation.
[0021] In the seeded-area-setting step (S20), the seeded area may
be determined depending on an influence of diffusion of the seeding
materials.
[0022] In the non-seeded-area-setting step (S30), the non-seeded
area may be set as an area that is not influenced by diffusion of
the seeding materials under weather conditions and topographic
conditions (observation altitude) similar to those of a rainfall
system distributed in the seeded area.
[0023] In the non-seeded-area-setting step (S30), when there is no
area that is not influenced by the seeding materials due to
diffusion of the seeding materials over the entire system or when
similar weather and topographic conditions are not found, the
non-seeded area may be set as the same area as the seeded area, and
data on the accumulated precipitation amount, measured in a
previous time period during which there was no influence of the
seeding materials, may be analyzed.
[0024] In the artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount
analysis step (S40), when the number of places in each of the
seeded area and the non-seeded area in which the rain gauge or the
snow depth meter indicates accumulated precipitation of 0.1 mm or
more is smaller than two, radar accumulated precipitation,
estimated based on the HSR radar reflectivity at the position of
each observatory in the target region and on the relational formula
Z=148R.sup.1.59 (Equation 1), may be used, and radar estimated
precipitation may be used when the accuracy thereof is 60% or
higher compared to the rain gauge.
[0025] In the artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount
analysis step (S40), in order to exclude an influence of
topographic effect, the value observed based on a rain gauge or a
snow depth meter located in each mountainous region in the seeded
area may be excluded from the calculation of the average value.
[0026] In the artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount
analysis step (S40), when the difference between the precipitation
average in the seeded area and the precipitation average in the
non-seeded area has a positive value, it may be determined that a
rain increase has occurred in the seeded area, and when the
difference between the precipitation average in the seeded area and
the precipitation average in the non-seeded area has a negative
value, it may be determined that a rain decrease has occurred in
the seeded area.
[0027] In the total artificial precipitation amount calculation
step (S50), the total amount of artificial precipitation may be
calculated using Equation 2 below.
total .times. .times. amount .times. .times. of .times. .times.
artificial .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times. ( tons ) =
effective .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times. area
.times. artificial .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times.
.times. increase .times. .times. amount .times. precipitation
.times. .times. density ( Equation .times. .times. 2 )
##EQU00001##
[0028] Here, because the unit of the effective precipitation area
is m.sup.3 and the unit of the artificial precipitation increase
amount is rt m, unit conversion may be necessary, the precipitation
density assumed 1 g/cm.sup.3, and the effective precipitation area
may be determined considering only the area of a land region in
which rain gauges or snow depth meters are distributed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The above and other features and other advantages of the
present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method of calculating the
total amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared
to a non-seeded area according to the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates radar reflectivity (HSR) images over time
for explaining the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 illustrates seeding material diffusion images over
time for explaining the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates a ground and numerical model accumulated
precipitation image (left) and a radar accumulated precipitation
image (right) for explaining the method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area according to the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 5 is a table showing ground and radar accumulated
precipitation changes in seeded and non-seeded areas in order to
explain the method of calculating the total amount of artificial
precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded area
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] An exemplary embodiment of a method of calculating the total
amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area according to the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A plurality
of embodiments may be provided. The features, and advantages of the
present invention will he more clearly understood from the
following description of the embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method of calculating the
total amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared
to a non-seeded area according to the present invention.
[0037] In the method of calculating the total amount of artificial
precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded area
according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, seeding
materials are seeded in an experimental area in order to stimulate
artificial precipitation in a target region, and then the total
amount of artificial precipitation in the area that is influenced
by the seeding materials compared to the area that is not
influenced by the seeding materials is calculated, thereby laying a
foundation for aggressively solving a water shortage phenomenon
through artificial precipitation using seeding materials.
[0038] In recent years, for the purpose of drought damage
reduction, forest fire prevention, fog reduction, etc., the Korea
Meteorological Administration and the National Institute of
Meteorological Sciences have actively conducted weather
modification experiments.
[0039] The purpose thereof is to control the occurrence of
precipitation, among meteorological phenomena, so as to enable
preparation for various disasters and stable supply of water
resources.
[0040] As seeding materials for weather modification, silver iodide
(AgI), which is an ice nucleus material, is used for cold clouds
(0.degree. C. or below), and calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2), which
is a hygroscopic material, is used for warm clouds (above 0.degree.
C.). These seeding materials perform a series of processes for
growing precipitation clouds by controlling collisions and merging
between naturally distributed cloud particles.
[0041] In general, weather modification experiments are classified
into artificial rain increase experiments for increasing the amount
of rainfall and artificial snow increase experiments for increasing
the amount of snowfall.
[0042] The National Institute of Meteorological Sciences has
conducted seeding experiments by spraying, seeding materials, such
as calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2) and silver iodide (AgI), into
various types of cloud systems, including a stratus and a
medium-scale cloud, using a meteorological aircraft.
[0043] In addition, a ground observation network has been
established and operated in order to verify the influence of
seeding materials on precipitation increase.
[0044] Basically, precipitation change in an area in which a
seeding effect is expected is analyzed based on the result of
simulation of a change in precipitation according to a numerical
model. However, because it is difficult to track introduction of
natural precipitation into seeding clouds or the direction in which
seeding materials move, there is a limitation in that it is not
straightforward to quantitatively determine an increase in the
amount of rainfall or an increase in the amount of snowfall, i.e.
the amount of artificial precipitation.
[0045] Therefore, there is need for a method of logically
estimating a seeding effect based on observation data.
[0046] Accordingly, according to the present invention, a
quantitative increase in artificial precipitation in the area that
is influenced by the seeding materials compared to the area that is
not influenced by the seeding materials is calculated in order to
verify the influence of seeding on precipitation increase after a
weather modification experiment.
[0047] The present invention proposes an approach to distinguish
the amount of precipitation increase caused by seeding from the
amount of precipitation caused by a natural precipitation system
distributed in the seeded area, and enables evaluation of the
performance of a model based on a comparison between the numerical
simulation result and an observed value. In addition the present
invention is advantageously capable of calculating the amount of
water resources that can be secured through a weather modification
experiment using the amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded
area.
[0048] According to the present invention, a seeded area and a
non-seeded area are distinguished from each other using, for
example, data on diffusion and non-diffusion, ground precipitation,
radar precipitation, weather conditions, and topographic conditions
in order to calculate the total increase in the amount of
artificial precipitation after an aerial experiment on artificial
precipitation.
[0049] In addition, the present invention proposes a method of
quantitatively determining the amount of precipitation increase
caused by seeding materials so as to secure a sufficient amount of
water through an artificial precipitation experiment, thereby
leading to technology that lays a foundation for preparing measures
to combat drought.
[0050] The specifications for performing the method of calculating
the total amount of artificial precipitation in a seeded area
compared to a non-seeded area according to the present invention
are as follows.
[0051] radar reflectivity: HSR data over time (before seeding, 7
hours after seeding)/(.png) file
[0052] .asterisk-pseud. hybrid surface rainfall (HSR): radar
minimum altitude angle observation data
[0053] radar accumulated precipitation: resolution (1 km*1 km),
analysis time (diffusion-influenced time)/(.txt) file
[0054] .asterisk-pseud. relationship between reflectivity (Z) and
rainfall intensity (R): Z=148R.sup.1.59
[0055] ground accumulated precipitation: rain gauge or snow depth
meter/(.dat) file
[0056] diffusion and non-diffusion results: 1 hour interval image
in numerical model/(.png) file
[0057] accumulated precipitation in numerical model: precipitation
change (seeding-non-seeding)/(.png) file
[0058] topographic conditions: Korean Peninsula DEM data/(.dbf)
file
[0059] Specifically, in the method of calculating the total amount
of artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a
non-seeded area according to the present invention, a seeded area
and a non-seeded area are distinguished from each other using data
on a seeding material diffusion field, an accumulated precipitation
change in a numerical model, weather conditions, ground accumulated
precipitation, and radar accumulated precipitation, and the total
amount of artificial precipitation that can be secured through a
weather modification experiment is quantitatively calculated.
[0060] The method of the present invention may be broadly divided
into an analysis time determination step (S10), a
seeded-area-setting step (S20), a non-seeded-area-setting step
(S30), an artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount
analysis step (S40), and a total artificial precipitation amount
(obtainable water resource amount) calculation step (S50).
[0061] Specifically, the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention includes an analysis time
determination step (S10) of setting a time period during which
seeding materials seeded in an experimental area diffuse and have
an influence on a. rain gauge or a snow depth meter in a target
region, a seeded-area-setting step (S20) of setting a seeded area
including the point at which artificial precipitation has the
greatest influence on the rain gauge or the snow depth meter in the
target region due to the diffusion of the seeding materials seeded
in the experimental area and the diffusion range of the seeding
materials, a non-seeded-area-setting step (S30) of setting a
non-seeded area having the same conditions as the seeded area, an
artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount analysis step
(S40) of calculating, when there are two or more places in each of
the seeded area and the non-seeded area in which the rain gauge or
the snow depth meter indicates accumulated precipitation of 0.1 mm
or more, the average of precipitation data in the two or more
places and the difference in the precipitation average between the
seeded area and the non-seeded area to analyze the
increase/decrease in the amount of artificial precipitation, and a
total artificial precipitation amount calculation step (S50) of
determining, when a precipitation increase occurs in the seeded
area, the area of a region in which the accumulated precipitation
increase is 0.1 mm or more as an effective area to calculate the
total amount of artificial precipitation. It is possible to
calculate the amount of water resources that can be secured through
a weather modification experiment using the total amount of
artificial precipitation in the seeded area and to secure a
sufficient amount of water through an artificial precipitation
experiment, thereby laying the foundation for preparing measures to
combat drought.
[0062] Hereinafter, the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention will be described in
greater detail.
[0063] Analysis Time Determination Step (S10)
[0064] An analysis time is determined as a time period during which
seeding materials diffuse and have an influence on a rain gauge or
a snow depth meter in a target region. This is a process of
determining the total accumulated time during which precipitation
is expected to increase due to the seeding materials. The analysis
time is determined as the time during which there is diffusion in a
numerical model and the accumulated precipitation
increases/decreases. For example, in the case in which there is a
small influence of natural precipitation, the overall time during
which the target region is influenced by the seeding materials may
be considered. However, in the case in which there is a large
influence of natural precipitation, the analysis time may be set to
be shorter in order to prevent excessive accumulation of
precipitation.
[0065] Seeded-Area-Setting Step (S20)
[0066] A seeded area is determined based on the point at which
ground precipitation occurs and the seeding materials have the
greatest influence on a rain gauge or a snow depth meter within the
diffusion range. The seeded area is determined considering an
entire range within which the seeding materials are diffused from a
reference point. Therefore, the seeded area is determined depending
on a diffusion region.
[0067] Non-Seeded-Area-Setting Step (S30)
[0068] A non-seeded area is set as an area that is not influenced
by diffusion of the seeding materials under weather conditions and
topographic conditions (observation altitude) similar to those of a
rainfall system distributed in the seeded area. If there is no area
that is not influenced by the seeding materials due to the
diffusion of the seeding materials over the entire system or if
similar weather and topographic conditions are not found, the
non-seeded area is set as the same area as the seeded area, and
data on the accumulated precipitation amount measured in a previous
time period, during which there was no influence of the seeding
materials, is analyzed (however, the analysis time is set to the
same value).
[0069] Artificial Precipitation Increase/Decrease Amount Analysis
Step (S40)
[0070] {circle around (1)} When the rain gauge or the snow depth
meter provided in each of the seeded area and the non-seeded area
indicates accumulated precipitation of 0.1 mm or more, the average
of precipitation data is calculated. If the number of places
satisfying this condition is smaller than two, radar accumulated
precipitation, which is estimated based on the HSR radar
reflectivity at the position of each observatory and on the
relational formula Z=148R.sup.1.59 (Equation 1), is used (however,
radar estimated precipitation is used only when the accuracy
thereof is 60% or higher compared to the rain gauge). Here, the
radar precipitation is an area average precipitation, but the value
calculated using the data of the rain gauge or the snow depth meter
may also be regarded as the area average precipitation that
represents each area. Further, in order to exclude the influence of
topographic effect, the value observed based on a rain gauge or a
silos depth meter located in a mountainous region in each area is
excluded from calculation of the average value.
[0071] {circle around (2)} The amount of artificial precipitation
increase for verifying the seeding effect is expressed using the
difference in the area average accumulated precipitation between
the seeded area and the non-seeded area (seeded area-non-seeded
area). If the precipitation difference has a positive value, it is
determined that a rain increase or a snow increase, i.e. a
precipitation increase, has occurred in the seeded area, whereas if
the precipitation difference has a negative value, it is determined
that a precipitation decrease has occurred.
[0072] Total Artificial Precipitation Amount (Obtainable Water
Resource Amount) Calculation Step (S50)
[0073] {circle around (1)} When a precipitation increase occurs in
the seeded area, the total amount of artificial precipitation
(tons), which is the amount of water resources that can be secured
through a weather modification experiment, is determined based
thereon. To this end, it is required to determine an effective area
of the region in which precipitation has occurred based on the
simulation result of accumulated precipitation. The area of the
region in which an accumulated precipitation increase is expected
to be 0.1 mm or more based on the precipitation appearing in the
numerical model is used as the effective precipitation area. In
addition, the effective precipitation area is determined
considering only the area of a land region in which rain gauges or
snow depth meters are distributed.
[0074] {circle around (2)} The total amount of artificial
precipitation is calculated by multiplying the effective
precipitation area, the amount of artificial precipitation
increase, which is the area average accumulated precipitation
calculated above, and the precipitation density, as expressed using
the equation below.
total .times. .times. amount .times. .times. of .times. .times.
artificial .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times. ( tons ) =
effective .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times. area
.times. artificial .times. .times. precipitation .times. .times.
.times. increase .times. .times. amount .times. precipitation
.times. .times. density ( Equation .times. .times. 2 )
##EQU00002##
[0075] Here, because the unit of the precipitation area is m.sup.3
and the unit of the area average accumulated precipitation is mm,
unit conversion is necessary, and it is assumed that the
precipitation density is 1 g/cm.sup.3. The calculated value
represents the amount of water resources that can be secured
through seeding, and indicates the quantitative seeding effect of a
weather modification experiment.
[0076] In an artificial precipitation experiment conducted on Mar.
27, 2020, the obtainable amount of water resources was calculated
using the algorithm described above. This example is an example in
which a weather modification experiment was conducted in Gangwon-do
region, north-east area of South Korea, in order to prevent forest
fire.
[0077] Data used to analyze a seeding effect is illustrated by way
of example in FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0078] FIG. 2 illustrates radar reflectivity (HSR) images over time
for explaining the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention, which shows a mixed state
of seeding materials and a natural precipitation system after
seeding, FIG. 3 illustrates seeding material diffusion images over
time for explaining the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention, which clearly
distinguishes a region that is influenced by the seeding materials
and a region that is not influenced by the seeding materials based
on a diffusion numerical model, and FIG. 4 illustrates a ground and
numerical model accumulated precipitation image (left) and a radar
accumulated precipitation image (right) for explaining the method
of calculating the total amount of artificial precipitation in a
seeded area compared to a non-seeded area according to the present
invention, based on which the precipitation change in the numerical
model is verified using the accumulated change in the ground
precipitation and the radar precipitation.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a table showing ground and radar accumulated
precipitation changes in the seeded and non-seeded areas in order
to explain the method of calculating the total amount of artificial
precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded area
according to the present invention.
[0080] Specifically, it can be confirmed from the data that the
seeding materials are mixed with natural precipitation. According
to the algorithm, the analysis time was set to 6 hours in
consideration of the diffusion range around a river in Gangwon-do,
which is a target region, and a predetermined area was set as the
seeded area. In addition, a northern region of the seeded area, in
which diffusion of the seeding materials does not influence the
precipitation system continuously distributed along the east coast,
was set as the non-seeded area. In addition, in order to exclude
the influence of a mountainous legion in Gangwon-do, data obtained
at an observatory located on a coastline in each area was
analyzed.
[0081] The basic statistic values of the ground and radar
accumulated precipitation in the seeded area and the non-seeded
area are shown in the table of FIG. 5, and the amount of artificial
precipitation increase was calculated using the difference in value
between the seeded area and the non-seeded area according to the
algorithm.
[0082] As shown in the table of FIG. 5, the area average artificial
precipitation increase with respect to 6-hour ground accumulated
precipitation was about 2.1 mm and the radar accumulated
precipitation was about 1.0 mm, based on which it can be seen that
the radar accumulated precipitation was relatively underestimated.
In this case, the value estimated based on the ground accumulated
precipitation data is taken as the amount of artificial
precipitation increase in order to ensure the reliability of the
data.
[0083] When the amount of artificial precipitation increase is
determined, it is possible to calculate the total amount of
artificial precipitation by multiplying the precipitation area by
the precipitation density. The precipitation area is the area of a
region in which the accumulated precipitation increase was 0.1 mm
or more based on the numerical model, and is 2,731 km.sup.2, as
shown in FIG. 4. The precipitation density is 1 g/cm.sup.3, and the
total amount of artificial precipitation is calculated as
follows.
2,731,000,000 m.sup.2.times.0.0021 m.times.1,000
kg/m.sup.3=5,735,100 t
[0084] As such, in the ease in which the weather modification
experiment described above was conducted in order to overcome
drought, it is expected that about 5,735 million tons of water
resources were obtained. Although this is not a notable amount of
water, this is the result of quantitatively estimating the effect
of weather modification experiments, and is significant in that a
greater amount of water resources can be secured in the future by
increasing the amount of seeding materials.
[0085] As a result, the method of calculating the total amount of
artificial precipitation in a seeded area compared to a non-seeded
area according to the present invention is capable of increasing
the reliability of quantitative determination of seeding effect,
observation data, and numerical model prediction data obtained from
artificial precipitation experiments in the short tern of
increasing the amount of water resources through weather
modification experiments, and of accomplishing various effects
(drought reduction, forest fire prevention, fine dust reduction,
fog reduction, hail suppression, etc.) and other related
applications through artificial rainfall experiments in the long
term.
[0086] In addition, the present invention is capable of improving
the accuracy of correction and prediction of a numerical model
obtained through weather modification experiments based on
observation data, of establishing experimental and observation
strategies for improving seeding efficiency in weather modification
experiments, of developing the field study on cloud development and
fine physical changes in the cloud after seeding, and of improving
the economic feasibility of artificial rainfall experiments.
[0087] As is apparent from the above description, according to the
present invention, seeding materials are seeded in an experimental
area in order to stimulate artificial precipitation in a target
region, after which the total amount of artificial precipitation in
the area that is influenced by the seeding materials compared to
the area that is not influenced by the seeding materials is
calculated so as to lay a foundation for aggressively solving a
water shortage phenomenon through artificial precipitation using
seeding materials.
[0088] The present invention has an effect of enabling preparation
for various disasters and stable supply of water resources by
controlling the occurrence of precipitation, among meteorological
phenomena.
[0089] The present invention has an effect of calculating a
quantitative increase in artificial precipitation in the area that
is influenced by the seeding materials compared to the area that is
not influenced by the seeding materials in order to verify the
influence of seeding on precipitation increase after a weather
modification experiment.
[0090] The present invention has an effect of calculating the
amount of water resources that can be secured through a weather
modification experiment using the amount of artificial
precipitation in a seeded area.
[0091] The present invention has an effect of securing a sufficient
amount of water through air artificial precipitation experiment,
thereby leading to technology that lays a foundation for preparing
measures to combat drought.
[0092] The present invention is capable of increasing the
reliability of quantitative determination of seeding effect,
observation data, and numerical model prediction data obtained from
artificial precipitation experiments in the short term, of
increasing the amount of water resources through weather
modification experiments, and of accomplishing various effects
(drought reduction, forest fire prevention, fine dust reduction,
fog reduction, hail suppression, etc.) and other related
applications through artificial rainfall experiments in the long
term.
[0093] The present invention is capable of improving the accuracy
of correction and prediction of a numerical model obtained through
weather modification experiments based on observation data, of
establishing experimental and observation strategies for improving
seeding efficiency in weather modification experiments, of
developing the field of stud on cloud development and fine physical
changes in the cloud after seeding, and of improving the economic
feasibility of artificial rainfall experiments.
[0094] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
[0095] The present invention is applicable to industrial fields
related to artificial precipitation increase experiments using
weather conditions.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0096] S10: analysis time determination step
[0097] S20: seeded-area-setting step
[0098] S30: non-seeded-area-setting step
[0099] S40: artificial precipitation increase/decrease amount
analysis step
[0100] S50: total artificial precipitation amount calculation
step
* * * * *